Tropical Storm Fiona intensified as its maximum sustained winds increased at 95km/h (60 mph) as it moves toward the Leeward Islands (Lesser Antilles), and a watch has already been issued for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported in its most recent bulletin that Fiona, which formed last night east of the Lesser Antilles, is 685 kilometers (425 miles) east of this archipelago and is moving rapidly toward west with a travel speed of 22 km/h (14 mph).
The United States issued a tropical storm warning for the Saba and Sint Eustatius Islands, Sint Maarten, Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Guadalupe and Anguilla.
Also, warned other parts of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti) to keep an eye on Fiona’s progress to take action if necessary.
The NHC expects the center of Fiona, the seventh named storm this season, to move across the Lesser Antilles this Friday night and early Saturday morning, then move near the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico in Saturday night and early Sunday morning.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km) from the center.
In addition to wind, Fiona will produce rain in the eastern Caribbean, with the risk of flooding and isolated mudslides in elevated areas, as well as storm surge and surf.
So far this hurricane season (June 1-November 30), seven named storms have formed in the Atlantic basin, of which two, Danielle and Earl, have reached hurricane status.